Tuesday, December 30, 1997

Taylor County pecan growers shine at regional competition

By J.T. SMITH / Farm Editor

Pecan entries from Taylor County placed at the top in several categories in December's West Texas Regional Pecan Show in San Angelo.

Robert Mayfield of Abilene was a double winner.

Mayfield took first place for his Desirable pecans in the commercial show. Mayfield also earned another first and grand champion accolades for his native pecans.

In the commercial division, J.R. Black of Abilene placed first in the Caddo variety.

Black also nabbed third place for his Choctaw pecans in the commercial judging. Finally, Black won third place in the in the classic division with his Cherokee entry.

J.H. Taylor of Taylor Farm in Abilene took first place with his Stuart pecans in the commercial competition. Taylor also won third place in the classic division with his Barton pecans.

Alton Lusk won first place in the classic division for his Comanche pecans.

Norman McVey of Tuscola won second place for his Mohawk pecans, and Bill Altom of Abilene placed second with his Schley entry in the commercial judging.

Oren McGrew came through with third place for his Tejas pecans in the commercial division.

Congratulations to these big winners at regional.

David Pueschel joins American Angus Association

Tuscola cattle raiser David Pueschel is a new member of the American Angus Association.

With its headquarters in St. Joseph, Mo., the association has more than 31,000 active adult and junior members. It is the largest beef cattle registry association in the world. Its computerized records include detailed information on more than 12 million registered Angus cattle.

Dick Spader, executive vice president of the association, notes that the organization records ancestral information and keeps records of production on individual animals for its members.

These permanent records help members select and mate the best animals in their herds to produce high quality, efficient breeding cattle which are then recorded with the American Angus Association.

Most of these registered Angus are used by the U.S. farmers and ranchers who raise high quality beef for U.S. consumption.

Eastland County Hay Show has top notch entries

The Eastland County Hay Show had entries from 28 county hay producers this year in the show at Eastland.

Clyde Herring of Flatwood produced the first-place hay that tested 15.1 percent crude protein.

Meanwhile, the top sudan entry was grown by J.L. "Jerl" Cate of Eastland with 13.1 crude protein.

The champion peanut hay was grown by Brad Stacy of Carbon with 11.8 percent protein.

Producers with runner-up hay entries were Royce McGaha of Carbon; Jim Kennedy, Olden; Doug Underwood, Eastland and Jim Moylan, Jr., Eastland.

Hay marketed from $19 to $32 for round bales, and $2.50 to $5.50 for square bales.

Besides allowing producers to learn more about their hay, the annual show raised $1,562 that will go toward the purchase of youngsters' animals at the annual Eastland County Livestock Show.